NUE-PSK Digital Modem – Development Roadmap from George N2APB

As many of you know, I’ve had a NUE-PSK Modem from very early on, which twice has been updated to the latest feature set.

Highly recommended and very neat bit of Amateur Radio Kit!

73

SteveK9ZW

NUE-PSK Digital ModemDevelopment RoadmapWhat new features are we working on?

The NUE-PSK modem currently supports two popular digital modes: PSK-31 and RTTY. We also support variations within those two modes (QPSK, QPSK/R and RTTY-reversed). And we have a nifty USB card add-on accessory that provides connection to the PC for updating, support for flash thumb drives to capture Tx and Rx text for later printing and archiving, and easy uploading/downloading modem configuration settings and macro strings for editing on the PC.

New Features In Development

CW Mode – CW (or Morse code) is perhaps the oldest operating mode of all; and although not an official “digital mode” by today’s standards, many users of the NUE-PSK Digital Modem have expressed interest in having it supported by the modem. Our plans are to have CW incrementally provided in several closely-spaced phases: Morse keyboard sending, CW decoding, and then “paddle-input and Morse-output mode” that will enable completely headless operation for optimum field operation … no keyboard or display will be necessary, thus providing for ultra-convenient portable operation. Morse Transmit should be ready in early June. CW Decode and Paddle-In/Morse-Out should be ready mid-summer.

Real Time Clock Calendar (RTCC) – When we created and designed the USB card, we planned for components to be later added to allow us to display current date and time on the modem LCD, as well as to add this info on every QSO that is recorded to the thumb drive. This last usage is geared especially for the EmComm community, as it is important to duly note date/time on message traffic into/out of an emergency and disaster locations. The plan is to provide a small update kit for sale such that one can easily upgrade the USB card capabilities, or of course one can send it in for the RTCC Upgrade. We expect to have RTCC component upgrade available in June.

MT63 Mode – We’ve had some discussion on the email list considering “What next digital mode would you like to have available?”, and when we compare the top choices with the development effort required for each (including available modem processor resources), MT63 comes out on top. Development for support of this mode is in progress and we hope to have it complete and available this summer.

The Timetable

Our ‘schedule’ has always been stated as being flexible and informal … We’re just two guys working on things in our radio shacks when the day jobs and family issues are not pressing, and so far most customers are happy with progress that we make. Sometimes, however, perhaps because of the effort we make in providing good customer support and order fulfillment, some people believe that we’re a big company and they get upset that we do not hit a specific day, week or month for availability. So, if you are buying the modem solely for the coming of an anticipated feature, and get easily frustrated when that feature isn’t ready when hoped for, then perhaps this product is not for you.

That all said, we are indeed working on these three new features and are hopeful that they will be coming along soon. And meanwhile, the modem is splendidly usable for all of its advertised capabilities and all set for a summer of Field Days, hikes, camping and other portable operations. We love the modem just as much as any of the 800-or-so other owners, and we too are eager to continue expanding the modem’s feature set.

After all, this is a capability that few other ham radio products on the market have … It’s the modem that keeps on growing!

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3 thoughts on “NUE-PSK Digital Modem – Development Roadmap from George N2APB”

With Olivia and Contestia having gained a lot of popularity I find it odd that MT63 was considered more important. I operate all bands and seldom hear much MT63 but hear a lot of Olivia – in fact I’ve had over 1,600 Olivia QSO’s in the last 3 years and hear it used on several digital nets. While MT63 is mostly used on some MARS nets – except when conditions get real bad and then they often switch to Olivia to get the message through.